Apr 2 Vida Client of the Week: Jorge

Meet Jorge. He’s a husband, father of two, works at eBay as a statistician, and is a facilitator at Boston University's computer science online master’s program.

Health change catalyst. During a workplace event, Jorge learned more about Vida Health, a benefit provided by his employer. He decided to give health coaching a try. Jorge knew his weight was creeping up and that he was at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Although he played basketball as a young man, health and fitness had taken a backseat in his busy life. “I was tired of being overweight and wanted to learn more about what I could do about it,” he says. “I wanted to learn about good habits.”

He began working with Coach Melisa on what he could eat to stay healthy. Jorge found that he didn’t have to make major changes to see the pounds drop. “Instead of white bread, whole wheat. Instead of chips, a salad,” he says.

He really saw the scale move when he added regular exercise to his life. He joined Orangetheory Fitness for heart-rate monitored interval training workouts. As a busy professional and father, he wanted to be efficient in his quest to get healthier.

Fast forward—8 months later. Jorge has lost 36 pounds and decreased his body fat percentage by nearly 15%. His most recent caliper body fat measure was a healthy 20.3%! Jorge says he never felt deprived while making small changes to boost his health. “It’s a more sustainable way to eat,” he says. “I can still have a burger, but now I don’t eat the fries.”

What's worked for Jorge:

A routine: Jorge fits in his workouts right after work. That leaves time in the evening for his family and his activities as a facilitator.

Tracking: Jorge wanted to be sure that the changes he was making were effective. “I wanted to recognize a return on my investment,” he says. The devices that came with the program, a connected scale and a Fitbit, showed him quantifiable results.

Mindful eating. Jorge can still enjoy his favorite barbecue, while making healthier choices. He used to eat mac and cheese and baked beans side dishes along with the meat. Now, he enjoys healthier options, like broccoli, as a side dish. It’s a new way of thinking about food, of making small trade-offs.

Thank you, coach. Jorge wanted a personalized experience. “Instead of telling me what to do, what to eat, I wanted to learn to make my own decisions.” Coach Melisa provided information and showed Jorge that his small steps toward a healthier life would add up to noticeable changes.

Jorge’s words of wisdom:

“You don’t have to do a lot of big changes, if you want to bring this into your life,” he says. “I have learned to eat better and to have a more active lifestyle. What I have learned about nutrition will stay with me and it does not require an unsustainable diet regimen.”

All clients in these Client of the Week stories have given us written permission to share any of the material in the email.